davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21
TIE CONVICTION OF GREENWELL.


Tho case against Grcenwell, who was yes
terday found guilty of murder in the first
degree, was a strong one, though circumstan
tial. Witnesses swore to having seen the de-
PENDANT close to the house of Mr.. Weeks, the
murdered man, shortly before the crime was
committed. A street-car driver identified him
as one of two men who rode in his car from
near tho scene of the murder, shortly after
its preparation. Two criminals testified that
no confessed his crime to them. AS to this
evidence there is perhaps some room for doubt.
but the bringing home Of the murder to
Greenwell did not depend upon it. 1t was
shown that the defendant sold coat and
pistol, both of which were in his possession
on the day of the murder, few hours after
the deed. This coat was identified by at
least two witnesses as having been worn by
one of the men who were seen lurking about
the Weeks house. Miller, the comrade Of
Cromwell and his accomplice in the bur
glary, was shown to have kept watch outside
while the defendant entered the house. The
chain OF testimony in fact brought Greenwich
to and inside Of tho house where the crime
was consummated, and under the clrcum-
stances nothing less than well-estabished
alibi could have cleared him. 1t was said at
one time that an abb could be introduced,
but counsel for the defence did not attempt 1t
No doubt conviction in capital cases on cir
cumstantia evidence is both difficult and
serious. When the chain as to the identity Is
incomplete, even though it lack but one link.
some doubt must creep in, some hestation be
felt by the most careful and conscientious
jury. In this case, however, the presumption
certainly is strong in favor of the justice OF
tho verdict reached. The hypothesis that the
defendants life was sworn away by his own
spals " in order to screen the actual murderer,
whom they valued more than Greenwich, ap-
pears to stand upon no serious evidence. III
was as nearly as possible proved that the
latter was one Of the burglars present on the
occasion of the murder. 1t was clearly es-
tabished that Miller, the other burglar, did
not enter tho house. In the circumstances
the naming Of another man as the possible
murderer could not exculpate Greenwich, be-
cause so many extraneous, Independent facts
pointed to the guilt Of the latter. The case
| was ono in which careless jury might have
| disagreed, but the verdict reached will be &C
| cepted as the most just which close analysis
! of all the evidence warranted. The crime was
| wanton and outrageous one and deserves the
| heaviest punishment, and there is no reason
| able ground for doubt as to the guilt OF the
convicted man. The course OF justice In this
case has been satisfactorily swift and the
| verdict is calculated to increase the security
| Of house owners in Brooklyn by discouraging
recourse TO the revolver on the part Of dis
covered burglars.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21
GREAT BRITAIN rs. VIRGINIA.

The distinguished English diplomatist, who
consented to represent British bondholders In
negotiation with the State of Virginia, goes
home with a final refusal Of all proposals
which the bondholders suggested. Virginia
not only refuses to settle, but takes steps look
ing to more effective reputation than ever OF
an obligation which can be escaped only by
Designating and defeating decision OF the
United States Supreme Court. What will be
the next step7 viii the bondhOders ask the
British Government TO negotiate for settle
ment Of their claims
That would not be step without precedent
Great Britain negotiated for tho satisfaction
Of bordhoders in Peru, In Egypt and in oti CT
countries British interference in the
affairs OF such countries has changed
their conditions materially. Nor can 1t be
claimed that interference under the circum
stances is contrary to principles of interna-
tional law Vattel says 1.-THE property oil
the individual is to be considered in the az
gregate as the property of the nation, with
respect TO other States. She is inter
ested in that property by her obligation 10
protect all her members And Phillimore
moro directly says " he right Of interference
on the part Of State, for tho purpose Of en-
forcing tho performance of justice to it's cti-
zcns from any foreign State, stands upon an un
questionable foundation, when foreign State
has become itself the debtor of its citizens. y
In 1s4S Lord Palmciston. in a circular letter
to British ambassadors regarding claims of
British creditors, said:
IL Is for the British Government entirely question
Of discretion, and by means question of irterna
tonal right, whether they should should not make
this matter a subject Of diplomatic negotiation If
tho question il TO be considered simply in its bearing
upon International right there can be no doubt what
ever O; tho perfect right which the Government of
every country possesses DO take subject Of dipo
matio negotiation any yell founded complaint which
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21
THE NEWS THIS MORNING.

FoRrIGN-Hope for the Irish cause; talk with
Mr.. Sexton OH the situation. - nj. de Freycinet
declines TO undertake the task of forming CABINET
- William OBrien attacked by Orangemen In
Kingston. Ontario. - Death of G. +. Smithers,
president of the Bank of Montreal. - Agents
If an American bank swindled. - Appeals OF
ira Orleans Princes rejected. - The Regent"
pearl sold for $37, 200 - Festivities among the
Don Cossacks. - Unionists opposed to the
Old Bailey clause of the Coercion bill
DoMEsrc-The Hotel Sunday Wine bill ordered
TO third reading in the Senate the bill exempt
ing German singing societies from paying liquor
license passed in the Assembly. 80 Bond call for
all the remaining outstanding three per cents, be-
ing $17, 900, OOO - Appointment of the Self
ridge Court of Inquiry. THE President to go to
the Adirondacks for ten days fishing. - Church
conventions. Orders withdrawing railroad
lands from settlement to be revoked. - The
Poughkeepsie Bridge bill passed g. Workmen
hurt by rioters in the Connelsville coke region.
- Democratic forgers indicted in Indiana. -
Natural gas found at Buffalo. - General Assem-
blies of the Northern and Southern Presbyterian
Churches. - The Eastern Yacht Club to hold
two regattas this season.
Cry AND SUBURBAN.-Four of the original jurors
left in the Sharp case. - GreeDwell convicted
Of the murder of Weeks. "A lively meeting OF
the Aldermen; electric light franchises refused.
r. Reynolds convicted of blasphemy and fined
SIS. - The Half Holiday law goes into effect
to-day. "A Flfth-ave. costumer led to Sing Sing
by q decoy telegram; robbery supposed to be the
motive. - Vicar-General Quinn's will filed
Pittsburgs beaten by NewYork Queen Kapi-
olani entertained. - starving baby found be-
side its dead mother. - Gold value of the legal
tsnder silver dollar 412l2 grainS-43Ssd. per
ounce-72 80 cents. - Stocks dull with some
improvement in figures, closing strong.
The WEATHER-Indications for to-day : Nearly
stationary temperature, and generally fair Tenn
perature yesterday: Highest 90o; lowest. 61' /;
average, 1880.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21
THE RETIRING SEA QUESTION:

Mr.. Henry w. Elliott, Of the Smithsonian
Institution. is one of the best informed men
in tho United States respecting the Alaska
fisheries. He has passed several seasons in
tho islands of Behring Sea and has written
an excellent volume on the Arctic province.
His letter on another page OF this issue con-
tains q compact statement of the rights Of the
United States in that land-l sea. 1t
shows that Russia had an historic and undis-
putcd tito to the territory and waters which
were purchased by Secretary Seward in 1867.
The Car had claimed supreme authority over
Behrng Sea- and no protest had been made
by the British Government. The sea had
been named and defined on Russian charts for
century or more, and the pelagio boundary
established by the treaty of purchase was
generally understood to be a line of division
between the United States on the east and
Russia on the west The Chairman OF the
Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr..
Sumner virtually described the Convention as
a partition deed. Congress ratified this pclagic
boundary, and the Treasury Department has
guarded and protected the jurisdiction thus &c
quircd.
Tho Canadian abstract Of the diplomatic
correspondence IN fcldlioh W ASnh" h"S ioP'
resented Secretary Bayard as admitting in an
interview with tho British Minister that the
United States Government had contested
claims similar to those which it now upholds.
Mr.. Elliott states that this is not true. In
1924 the United States Government protested
against tho Russian claim to absolute do
minion over tho waters Of the North Pacific.
| This is the protest which the British Minister
and Secretary Bayard had in mind when they
discussed tho subject. II was not, however, a
protest against Russia's rights in the land
locked Bchring Sea and consequently has nc
bearing upon the present controversy This
| explanation Of our correspondent, il 1t be
correct in all details, as we believe 1t to be
upsets the British theory that the United States
| Government is bound by its own precedents to
abandon all claims to jurisdiction over Behring
Saa
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21
SJLTER SPECULATION.

Tho silver Spectators have tried to lift tho
price OF bullion and Of mining stocks py
United States legislation and by international
conferences. Nine years of such efforts have
entirely failed. Now it is proposed to create
speculative market for silver bullion al
New FORK, with tho aid Of a new bank sup
poscd to be in close relations with the. Treas
ury. Tho purpose reduced to plain words
ia to corner silver bullion, to compel opera
tors in England TO submit to squcczes, more
or less frequent or severe, for the benefit OF
American spectators and minc-owncrs, and
to force tho world to take its price from this
CITY, Tho plan may DO called patriotic but
will il work
Any operator Of moderate resources, accord
inp to the measure OF modern speculation,
could for time corner tho existing market
for bullion. That is one Of the easiest things
in the world. Nobody attempts it, to q
serious extent because competent dealers In
bullion know what American silver fanaticS
arc willing to forget, that thcre is vast sup
NV OF wholly or potentially unused silver In
Europe which would gladly DO exchanged for
gold at any opportunity. France is supposed
10 have in circulation over $5O0,00oOOO in
silver OF which the bank holds as a practi-
caly useless and dead reserve over
5000 900 900, and almost any part OF
these largo sums could be emptied
upon any market open to receive
them. Germany is supposed to have over
500 900 600, Austria $75.0O0,000, Belgium
$50 600 900, Italy $l0.00o,o0o, and almost
any part of thcse supplies could also be emp
tied on a speculative market through the use
of certificates. The governments Of these
countries would rejoice exceedingly at an OPP
portunity of Kidding themselves of the silver
problem by exchanging more or less of the
accumulated silver for gold in vaults and
paper in use, or for gold in use. The silver
could be emptied on speculative market such
as now exists for wheat or coffee, cotton or
provisions, without any knowledge that the
unloading was in progress until it had been to
large extent accomplished. The first indl-
cation Of its progress would probably be the
financial crash following the failure OF the
operatons for rise. Perhaps this country
wants 10 become the owner of 81 900 900, 900
moro or less of additional filver, only in order
no insure its more complete disuse by other
nations But there is sound reason for doubt
ing whether that would be wise National
policy.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21

any Of it, subjects may prefer against tho oo'efh'
ment of any other country.
II the British Government acting upon this
principle. should seek to uphold the CLAIMS oil
British creditors, believing them to bc just,
il could not negotiate with Virginia. In all
foreign relations Virginia is represented en-
clusively by the United States. strange
anomaly il is that our National Government
hermit; States and even cities to create with
ONT its consent o. even it's knowledge, obliga-
tions which foreign powers may ak National
Government 10 make COOL. But to this hour
the Government of the United States has made
no effort to limit the State or local Govern
ments in the creation OF debts, nor has IL
adopted any means by which payment OF those
debts can be secured if foreign power should
entirely satisfy the United States that the
debt is valid and ought to be paid.
In the Virginia case the decision of the
Supreme Court Of the United States might be
cited by Great Britain as conclusive evidence
for all branches Of the United States Govern
mont that the claims of creditors of Virginia
arc valid and ought to be paid. What course
coud tho United States take in that event 7
President Cleveland might indeed refer the
matter to his Attorney g neral who, after
his appointment to that Office, appeared as at
torney for the State Of Virginia to defend its
population of claims held by the United
States Treasury among other creditors But
the opinion of such an AttOney-Gencral
would hardly have much weight in Great Brit
ain, or with public opinion on either side Of
tho ocean. What answer could President
Cleveland make, if Great Britain should urge
payment and Virginia should refuse to pay
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21

STARTLING REVELATIONS ABOUTLIBERI1
Liberty is rotten. This seemingly startling
statement will not however, create such feeling
of CONSERVATION as might be supposed ut the fist
elance The allusion is moi TO the civil and
political liberty OF which Fourth of July orators
are wont TO boast nor to the liberty OF the press
nor to the late John Stuart Mills Liberty nor
vet TO the big statue which France has set up for
lis in the harbor The liberty which, like "Romcs
ship of which Addison wrote, is rotten. is the
figure OF Liberty the New-Yorll City Hall. 1t
must be notifying to the people Of this town to
learn that this symbolic figure, which has mildly
eazed down upon them 10 these many years, Is
made-no not OF common clay, but of mere or
binary, everyday wood. Well may they ask them
selves how much better are they than the heather,
who according to the author Of "Grcenlands Icy
Mountains, "in his blindness bows down TO wood
and stone
1t is encouraging, however, 10 reflect that the
rOltenness Of Liberty can be cured more eheaply
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21
TIE S1TURD1Y H4LEHOLIDAY

The promoters of the half holiday move
ment have abundant reason to be satisfied with
the success they have achieved. That the
bill which has recently received the Govern
or's signature will be material aid in secur-
ing the wider observance of the last after
noon of the week as a holiday is certain. There
is nothing compulsory in the new law, which
will go into effect today, except so far as
banks and branches of business closely allied
with banks are concerned But the moral
effect of the legislation will be great. The
movement so far has been purely voluntary.
Beginning in o small way a few years ago, ii
first attained the dignity of a movement two
wears ago, when the subject was pretty widely
agitatcd and drygoods houses to a large ex-
tent fell in with the new and humane idea.
Last year renewed agitation resulted in wide
extension Of tho movement, and it is esti-
mated that the half-holiday was enjoyed
throughout the summer by half a million
persons in New-Yor1 and Brooklyn alone.
Tho new law is not likely to have any revo-
lutonary effect. II simply gives legislative
sanction to reform which had taken strong
hold upon the popular mind and which was
almost sure to extend indefinitely This is
shown by its rapid growth in the past. Legs
lation making the half-hoday genemlly com
pulsory would plainly be unwlse. If the half
holiday were to mean loss of wages--as
would most likely be the case where work Is
done by the day-wage-earncrs would by nc
means be willing to accept it they could not
afford to do so. The provision that banks
shall not do business on Saturday after II
o'clock, and those relating to commercial
paper etc, arc however, wise, and will sim
plify tho matter in relation to commercial
houses, brokers' Offices and some Other
branches Of business.
The half-holiday idea has taken deep root
in this community and is sure to grow. How
far il may extend ii would be rash to predict
It's influence cannot but be wholesome and
beneficial, and it is hardly doubtful that by
reason Of the stimulus which it will furnish
as much work Of all sorts will bc
done in five days and half a.
has heretofore been done in SIX II
will be fortunate thing when all classes o
workers. whether by brain or hand, shall en-
low half a day Of rest in every week In addl
ton TO Sunday, for tho right use OF whlci
they will be the better prepared by the hour
OF leisure on Saturday afternoon.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21
KrvyonK DAILY TRIBUNE SATURDAY MAY 2I 1881 TEN PAGES

than some OF the rottcnncss that has prevailed
in late years in the building over which Liberty
has presided There is talk OF replacing inc
rotten figure with one of bronze at cost Vi
Sc 900. We wonder whether proposals Will DC
advert sed for in the usual way and the Work
awarded to the lowest bidder. Fortunately, III
this case, the figure will be put up SO high oiae
its artistic merits, or dement's, can only De eA-
amined through spy-glass. But on the "hoe'
wouldn't bronze figure of Liberty. the franchise
for which should be sold at public auction DC
the most appropriate emblem to mark the preseh'
era in our municipal history
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21

Accounts from Albany indicate that the leg
islators there are getting in too much OF
hurry This seems especially true OF the Sem
ate. Bills were rushed through that body yes
terday to which nobody gave much attention
except the men who were managing them.
Naturally several bad ones were in the lot.
Now, this should stop Immediately. The Leg
isature of ISS6-S7 has done much good work.
and the members cannot afford TO damage their
excellent records between now and the day Oh
adjournment. Go slow and carefully and look
out sharply for jobs. Let every man be in his
place promptly on Monday, and there will be
ample time to finish the work of the session
decently and in order.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21
dmnsemefIis.

xss1on 1PsRG HOUSE, and s-Adonia
CIuso-2 and s-Ermine nvorrrMor
NAYS THEATRE p and s-Romance OF foor iouns iai
EDvS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Lajos
rn.sn OpyKA House, aad s-Joseph Murphy:
Tyrrrx THEArRE-2 and s:30-The Highest BIDDER
MADISON AVE AND 59THsr.-Day and Evemhg-"eii'
mac and Monitor Panorama
NrnIo's GARpHS-2 and S-RienzL
n .n1sos souARE THEATRE-2 and s:30-Our Society,"
Polo GRoUSDs-Baseball
eTANpARp THEATRE-2 and 9-Gasparone-
srAR THEATRE and 8-The Pyramid
Spy .TRy CoMIoUE-2 and s-London Assurance.
WALIAcK's-2 and S-The Black Hussar' ,>uh.or
14rH-sr THEATRE and 3-Denman Ihohpso%
ros and 73o BRO ADV Y-Oh London streeI
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21

taxpayers yesterday can expect their cons'''u-
ents to suppose that they acted from honest
disinterested motives. Probably none OF them
does expect it or cares what any Que THINKS
Neither did the "little combine" of 1884 care
for a while.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21

proposition is pending in Pennsylvania 10
appropriate $3.50, 900 to repair the Capitol at Har
risburg. Well. to repair at that figure Is cheaper
than to tear down and rebuild. For further par
ticulals interview the Empire State IN regard 10
what has been her experience with capitols'
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21

on THE PRESIDENT Is sPUNkr, fs HE'
' Fror, The Warrington Pest ...o-csvs
TO tina New-YOrk papers want TO see At.o.nox
o. ~ eno cariand mdc member OF the Supfc@s
Court they had better keep on insulting 's ana paster
To mako AN an sppolntmeni on account u rsssa'"1e
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21


nsr travellers, can hare The DAILY TRIBUNE
the address being changed as often as desired.
THE DAILY TRIBUNE piU be sent to any address
in Europe at ST. 35 per month chich includes
the ocean postage
Mr.. OBrien was at tacked again at Kingston
last night by crowd of ruffians who probably
envy Toronto for the discredit she has gained
through denying free speech to freeman.
This will cause another outburst OF Tory ex-
ultation in London, where it will again be de-
clared that loyal Canada will have nothing to
do with Irish Home Rulers. Impartial observ-
ers, however, will draw no such inference. They
will be much more apt to conclude that Cana
dians, in two cities at least. are unfit to enjoy
the privileges the laws of the Dominion now
give them.
The Tories in London have been rejoicing
for the last few days over the result of the
election in st. Austel in Cornwall. The Glad
stonian candidate, Mr. Macarthur was elected,
but only by majority of 200, while heretofore
the Liberals have won by over 1000. AS is
often the case, these statistics are misleading.
In a special dispatch to The TRIBUNE this
morning, Mr.. Sexton, NJ. Ps explains away all
cause for Tory exultation. The two counties of
Devon and Cornwall. it seems are centres of
Liberal Union strength, and that the Home
Rule candidate should be returned at all shows
how powerful the sentiment of justice for Ire
land is even in the house of its enemies.
The Senate ought to step hard on the bill to
bay patent cancelling ballot boxes for every
election district in the State. If the bill should
become law the present enormous expenses
of elections would be largely increased and
the increase would be superluOus, indefens-
ible and wrong. There is no fault to be found
with the present ballot boxes, and there is no
danger of fraud If honest election inspectors
and clerks are appointed To secure these it
only necessary to keep the appointing boards
clean. Elections cannot be purified by the use
of any fancy gimcracks at the polls, This bill
has an unwholesome look. 1t seems to be
scheme to fill some ones pockets at the public
expense.
The majority of the present Board of Alder
men seem to be about as bad a lot as the Com
mon Council chamber has seen in recent times.
The notorious combine of 1884 was rather
more impudent, but hardly less Indifferent to
public interests. The struggle over the electric
light franchises has been long bitter and COM
plicated, but the "ring" have stood steadily
in one position, determined to shut out ell new
companies from competition before the Gas
Commission, and yesterday, after disorderly
meeting, they carried their point. The city Is
thus condemned to another year Of imperfect
illumination at an unnecessarily large cost 1t
Is impossible to understand how any Of the
then who tAus voted against the interests Of the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21

Mr. Butterworths benevolent invasion oil Canada
in the interest OF reciprocity has not been 1avora
bly, received at Toronto. The Board OF Iraue
after an exciting and almost riotous meeting ue-
clned to entertain motion Offering It's hospltaily
to him when he makes his approaching VlslU ="
don't want a stranger to instruct us y exclaimed
many of the leading members in one breath. Inc
intrinsic value of the hospitality of Toronto has
materially declined since the recent outbreaks OF
ruflianism Mr. Butterworth will do well TO stay
away and leave the Loyal Coter1e OF the Guy 10
stew in its own juice. Besides he will have plenty
to do on this side of the frontier If nc seriously
expects to bring about reciprocity.